On April 25, 2005, DID covered the new GBU-39 250 lb. Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), a GPS-suided glide bomb whose design and pinpoint accuracy gave it the same penetration capabilities as a 2000 lb. BLU-109, while enabling US aircraft to carry eight times as many of them. The SDB is considered to be a key Air Force transformational program, with an overall value that could be as high as $2.7 billion.
DID also noted its connection to the Boeing procurement scandals, however, and the decision facing the Air Force re: whether to maintain its award of Phase II production to Boeing and Northrop-Grumman, or to re-open the competition. The USAF has now made some clear moves in preparation for re-opening the competition. Lockheed, whose protests in the wake of the Darlene Druyun scandal led to the contract’s re-opening, is expected to compete against Boeing again. More details can be found over at DefenceTalk.com.
Harris Technical Services in Colorado Springs, CO received a pair of contract modifications from the 50th Space Wing for operation, maintenance and support of the critical ground station components for several critical satellite constellations, and for the US Air Force Satellite Control Network generally.
Work will be performed at Schriever Air Force Base, CO and Harris Technical Services, and will be complete by September 2006. Details follow…
ARCTEC Services in Colorado Springs, CO recently received two radar support contract modifications from the US military. One covers the ballistic missile early warning and space tracking radars, while the other covers the Alaska Radar System.
Schaefer Corp. in Chelmsford, MA received a $6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide for particle analysis services and non-personal services for the processing and analyzing of particle samples. These services will be used in support of the United States Atomic Energy Detection System for nuclear test ban treaty verification, on behalf of the Air Force Technical Applications Center. Work will be performed at Schafer Vallecitos Laboratory in Sunol, CA. Solicitations began in June 2005 and one proposal was received. Negotiations were completed in August 2005, and work will be complete by September 2006. The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, FL issued the contract (FA2521-05-C-8009)
Knik Construction Co., Inc. in Anchorage, AK won a $17.9 million firm-fixed price contract for repair of airfield pavement (Phase III) and upgrade of infrastructure (Phase I) at Wake Island Air Force Base in the South Pacific. Work will be performed on Wake Island, and is expected to be complete by October 2006. This contract was competitively procured, with 10 proposals solicited and two offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific in Pearl Harbor, HI issued the contract (N62742-05-C-1304).
As a result of weapons reduction treaties, the Minuteman III missile is now the USA’s only remaining land-launched nuclear missile. The last MX “Peacekeeper” missile was deactivated yesterday (Sept. 19, 2005). Deactivation began in October 2002 after President Bush set a plan in motion in 2001 to reduce the USA’s missile forces from 6,000 to between 1,700 and 2,200. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to follow a similar plan.
The MX Peacekeeper was the most powerful, accurate missile the USA has ever deployed, capable of carrying up to 10 independently targeted nuclear warheads to any point in the world with unparalleled accuracy. In order to keep its older Minuteman III force effective, however, the USA has undertaken a number of projects to maintain and modernize that force.
